enraged when the Christian insists on dividing mankind into two groups, those who believe in Christ and are saved, and those who will not believe in Christ and hence are lost. The Fact and Basis of the Spiritual Brotherhood That the spiritual brotherhood of be lievers exists is clearly taught in the Bible (John 1:12; 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; 5:28, 29; 8:41-44; Eph. 2:1-10, and many other passages). The basis of the spirit ual brotherhood is faith in Jesus Christ. The above passages indicate this truth also. The Lord Jesus Christ taught that every man must he “born again” if he is to enter and see the kingdom of God (John 3:1-7). The new birth is the badge of the true Christian. It is an experience about which there is no question in the mind and heart of the believer. He knows that God has done something in him, something mysterious, something won derful and something far-reaching in its effects in his entire life. For this reason Jesus called it being “ born again” ; Paul calls it being a “new creation” and a “new man” . Ask your self the question, Have I experienced the new birth? If so you are a child of God and a member of the spiritual brotherhood. The Responsibility of Spiritual Brotherhood Every person in the world has a per sonal responsibility toward all men by virtue of the fact that he is a part of the world family. This relationship is sharpened by the Christian experience. The Christian will acknowledge every man as a potential brother in Christ, and will seek to influence him to Jesus Christ. In this sense we are our brother’s keeper, we who believe. The Christian will recognize every man who names the name of Christ as his brother. What a difference would come into the church if every Christian could see beyond his own particular fellowship of believers and see every believer as his own brother in the Lord! Surely denominational distinctions and man-made hedges would dissolve. The true Christian will exercise brotherly love toward all his brethren. Study Romans 12:10 and First John 2:7-11 in this connection. Finally, but most important, the true believer will resemble1the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the family mark upon him (Rom. 8:29; 1 John 2:6). Search your own heart and life and see if these things are true of you. Feb. 15, 1953 HUMANITY'S ONENESS 1 Sam. 1:3; Matt. 22:34-40; 1 Cor. 8:12,13; 1 Thess. 3:12,13 A great deal of care must be exercised in treating this topic. We live in a day when the trend is toward amalgamation and world unity. This trend is apparent in many places; in politics, in social J A N U A R Y , 1 9 5 3
structures, in business and in the church. The UNO is an effort toward world government; communism and socialism are efforts toward world so cial unity; big business is a movement toward m onopoly unless carefully guarded; the recent (1948) inauguration of the World Council of Churches is a trend in the direction of a world church. The topic, then, is of contemporary in terest and must be thought through in the light of the Word of God. The Two Races of Men We are accustomed to speak of several races of men,—the white race, the black race, the yellow race, and the brown race. Actually there are but two races of men: the race of regenerate men and the race of unregenerate men. The Bible clearly distinguishes between the two (Eph. 2:1-10, etc.). Every man enters either of these groups by birth. Every soul born into the world is a part of lost humanity (Rom. 5:12f; Eph. 2:3; John 3:5-7). Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is born into the family of God via the new birth (John 3:3-7). Each race of man constitutes a king- I dom. Our Lord said that no man can enter His kingdom without the new birth, that is, without the supernatural work of the Spirit of God in giving that man a new heart and a new life (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). A man is either in the king dom of God or in the kingdom of Satan (Col. 1:13); either Christ is the King of his life (Rom. 10:9,10), or Satan (Eph. 2:2). The World’s False Unity Unregenerate men, including commu nists and modernists, are loud in their affirmation of the doctrine of the univer sal brotherhood of man. Such leaders ignore the Word of God and repudiate the Cross of our I^ord Jesus Christ. To these men social equality is the only thing in life worth having. They deny the fact of Heaven and Hell and try to set up their Heaven right here on earth. It is of great interest to the student of the Bible to observe these present trends toward world oneness. A world government under the control of the Satan-inspired antichrist and a world church under the control of a Satan- inspired church leader is clearly fore told in the Word of God (Rev. 13; 2 Thess. 2). As the tendency toward world unity gains momentum and popularity with the masses there will arise fierce op position toward any who denounce the movement. Christians who refuse to recognize God-haters and Christ-rejecters and Bible-deniers as their spiritual brothers will be hated and brutally per secuted (Matt. 24:9,10). The Relation of God’s People To the World God’s people are in the world but not of it (John 15:18-25; 17:15-17). The Christian is forbidden to love the things of the world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-
H tUNCOVER S P IR IT U A L R ICH E S— USE QUESTION AND ANSWER METHOD
Bible Work Books by Keith L. Brooks
H*Grateful missionaries say that they uncover spiritual riches in the Word equally for simple converts or scholarly minds. Easy direct meth od: searching questions answered with Bible
references to be looked up and written down. You are sure of ablessing evenfrom a few minutes reading. KNOW THE BIBLE BETTER Individuals or groups will find the Bible meaning more, giv ing more and uplifting more by means of these greatly used and justly acclaimed Bible courses. Over 20 titles in the complete series. Begin with one of these—
Ju nio r Bible W ork . Basic Bible W ork Christian Character
M l ,-, ,2 5 c
,2 5 c
,25c Principles of P ra ye r » « * • » « » « • » • * . 30c Prophetic Research ............................ ,65c Doctrinal Studies ....................................... 50 c (Various New Testament Courses at low prices) Order today through your book store or direct. Write for FREE Book Bulletin; also for sample copy of the League’smonthlymag azine, PROPHECY. AMERICANPROPHETICLEAGUE, INC. Box BB, Eagle Rock Sta. . Los Angeles 41, Calif.
HO. 9-5883
HO. 9-5883
(fêabult ( f c . on ORIENTAL RUG J CLEANERS Largest in the West 545 N. WESTERN AVE.
Great Books on Prophecy Just Off the Press
These booklets exalt and explain the Word of God, and are written by a world traveler and student of the Scriptures for 45 years. 1. “ The Second Coming: of Christ Explained.“ This subject is dealt with in great detail, com paring the two different events of His coming. 2. “ The Kingdom of God Explained, and the Gospel of the Kingdom.“ It explains all the won derful prophecies pertaining to Christ’s ever lasting kingdom which is close at hand. 3. “ The New Jerusalem, the City of the Living God.“ This book explains the marvelous wonders of heaven, God’s great capital of the Universe. 4. “Mystery Babylon the Great Explained.” This most difficult of all Prophecies is at last made clear to readers, for it explains the greatest mys tery in the world today. 5. “ The Coming United States in Europe Ac cording to Prophecy.” It explains what the Bible states about Communism, and how ten nations will unite in Western Europe as a balance of power against Russia. Special offer. All for $1.00 REV. ANDREW OLSEN BIBLE EXPOSITOR Grays River, Washington Page Twenty-five
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker